Reparenting Yourself to Heal Anxiety

Reparenting yourself is a concept that involves treating yourself with the love, care, and compassion that you might have received from a healthy parent during your childhood. It is a therapeutic approach that can be used to heal emotional wounds and improve your overall mental health.

Anxiety is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by feelings of worry, fear, and apprehension that can interfere with daily activities and lead to a decreased quality of life. Reparenting yourself can be an effective way to ease anxiety and build a foundation of self-love and self-compassion.

Here are some ways that you can use reparenting to ease anxiety:

1. Identify your triggers

The first step in reparenting yourself to ease anxiety is to identify your triggers. Triggers are the situations, events, or people that cause you to feel anxious. They can be different for everyone, and they can change over time. Once you have identified your triggers, you can begin to take steps to manage them. This might involve avoiding certain situations or people, practicing relaxation techniques, or seeking professional help.

2. Practice self-compassion

Self-compassion is an essential part of reparenting yourself. It involves treating yourself with kindness, care, and understanding, just as you would treat a close friend or loved one. When you are feeling anxious, try to speak to yourself in a kind and supportive way. Avoid self-criticism and negative self-talk, as these can make your anxiety worse. Instead, practice self-compassion by acknowledging your feelings and offering yourself words of encouragement.

3. Create a self-care routine

Taking care of yourself is another important aspect of reparenting. This might involve developing a self-care routine that includes activities that make you feel calm, relaxed, and happy. Some examples of self-care activities include taking a warm bath, practicing yoga or meditation, going for a walk in nature, or indulging in a favorite hobby. By prioritizing self-care, you can reduce your anxiety levels and improve your overall well-being.

4. Challenge negative beliefs

Negative beliefs about yourself, others, and the world around you can contribute to feelings of anxiety. These beliefs might include thoughts like "I'm not good enough," "Everyone is out to get me," or "The world is a dangerous place." To ease anxiety, it's important to challenge these negative beliefs and replace them with more positive, realistic ones. This might involve seeking professional help, practicing cognitive-behavioral therapy, or using self-help resources like books or online courses.

5. Build a support system

Having a strong support system can be incredibly helpful when it comes to managing anxiety. This might include friends, family members, a therapist, or a support group. When you are feeling anxious, reach out to someone in your support system for help and support. They can offer you a listening ear, practical advice, and emotional support to help you through difficult times. If you are interested in booking a free 15 minute call with a therapist today, follow this link here to set up the call.

6. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a powerful tool for easing anxiety and improving overall mental health. It involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment, and it can help you to stay grounded and centered when you are feeling anxious. There are many different ways to practice mindfulness, including meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindful movement practices like yoga or Tai Chi. By practicing mindfulness regularly, you can train your mind to stay calm and focused even when you are facing challenging situations.

7. Set boundaries

Setting boundaries is an important part of reparenting yourself. Boundaries involve saying no to things that don't serve you, and protecting your time, energy, and emotional well-being. If you are feeling anxious because you are overwhelmed with commitments or responsibilities, it might be time to set some boundaries. This might involve saying no to activities that you know will drain your energy. However, it is important to remember that sometimes we need to do things that are uncomfortable for us. If no one was willing to occasionally do uncomfortable things or things that don’t serve us individually, then no one would stay to clean up after a party, and no one would take dinner to the family with a new baby, and no one would miss their train to help an elderly woman with groceries. It’s important to understand that setting boundaries doesn’t mean you lose your sense of community and caring, it just means that maybe there are few things in your life that you can cut back on that might be draining your battery and bringing anxiety in your life. 

Anxiety can be difficult to navigate. At Fortis Counseling we are here to support you the whole way through. We can teach you more about reparenting yourself, or we can work on other aspects of healing your anxiety. Working with a professional counselor can be a great step in your journey to change your life for the better. Learn more about our anxiety treatment here.